Demountable chair



Feb. 17, 1953 G. J. BASILE 4 2,

DEMOU NTABLE CHAIR Filed April 20, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTQR. GENNHRO J BBS/LE BY HTTORNEY Feb. 17, 1953 J, BASH; 2,628,668

DEMOUNTABLE CHAIR 7 Filed April 20, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GENNHRO J. Ens/LE HTTORNEY 1953 G. J. BASILE DEMOUNTABLE CHAIR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 20, 1949 I I I I I l I l/ HTTORNEY Patented Feb. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to furniture, and more particularly to a collapsible chair which is adapted to be economically manufactured from any suitable stiff sheet material, such as ply wood.

One object of this invention is to provide a device of the above nature which is composed of parts which may be taken apart quickly and easily, and which may thereafter be stored in a small space.

Another object is to provide a chair of the above nature in which the legs and back uprights are formed by a pair of frame members, which are held rigidly together by detachable means disposed entirely below and at the rear of the seat, thus avoiding any disfiguring slots or obstructions in the upper and forward portions of the seat.

Another object is to provide a device of the above nature in which the frame members may be used interchangeably with different types of chairs or other seating devices.

A further object is to provide a device of the above nature which will be simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble and manipulate, compact, ornamental in appearance, and very efficient and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view, there have been illustrated on the accompanying drawings several forms in which the invention may conveniently be embodied in practice.

In the drawings,

Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 are perspective views of the first form of the improved chair in various stages of assembly, and progressively showing the chair fully assembled, with the back removed, with the seat raised, and with the frame members separated.

Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view, showing the bottom of the assembled chair.

Fig. 6 is a partial top view, showing the back of the chair.

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing how the parts of the chair may be economically laid out and cut from a single sheet of material.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of thefirst form of the chair in assembled condition.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view on a smaller scale, taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

FigflO is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, I

showing a second form of chair in which the seat and the frame members are held in position by dowel pins.

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view on a larger scale, taken on the line I II I of Fig. 10.

1 Claim. (Cl. -196) Fig, 12 is a partial top view showing the back of a third form of chair.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the same, on an enlarged scale, showing how the back is detachably secured to one of the uprights.

Fig. 14 is a partial top view showing the back of a fourth form of chair, wherein said back is detachably secured to the uprights by means of dowels.

Fig. 15 is a front view of the same.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the fifth form of the invention, showing how two sets of the frame members would be employed in an elongated bench or settee.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the bench shown in Fig. 16.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numerals II), II indicate a pair of similar h-shaped frame members which respectively comprise approxlmately horizontal tapering bars I2, I3, forwardly-inclined front legs I4, and I5, rearwardly inclined rear legs I6, I I, and rearwardly inclined uprights I8, I9 above the rear legs.

In order to permit the frame members I0, ll to be assembled in a right-angular relationship, the central portions of the horizontal bars l2, I3 are provided respectively with an upper slot 20 and a lower slot 2| (Fig. 4').

Thus, when the frame members Ill, H are assembled, the upper edges of the bars I2, I3 are disposed in a single plane which is on a slight upward incline in a forward direction, and are adapted 'to support a generally trapezoidal flat seat 22, which is rounded at its front corners and is provided with a pair of inclined notches 23, 23 at its rear corners (Figs. 7 and 8'). The notches 23 are adapted to embrace the uprights I8, I9, so as to assist in holding the seat 22- in place. The frame members I0, Ii will also be held in a rigid position with relation to the seat 22 by means of three triangular blocks 24, 24, 24, which are secured to a lower central portion of said seat in such a manner as to provide a pair of slots 25, 25 which are adapted to receive the intersecting portions of the horizontal bars I2, l3, as shown in Figs. .3 and 5.

The upper end portions of the uprights I8, I9 are provided with bevelled front edges 28, 2'! (Fig. ,2) which are adapted to support a flat horizontal'back 28 by means of pairs of separable snap fasteners 29, 30, of any suitable type.

It .will thus be seen that. the frame members I II, II will be rigidly held in a predetermined relation by the combined action of the seat 22 and the back 28.

It will be seen by reference to Fig. 7 that the parts of the improved chair are so shaped that their outline may be laid out upon a sheet of material A in such a manner as to permit the parts to be cut out with the formation of a minimum of scrap and waste material. Thus, the frame members III, II may be laid out in contiguous relationship, inasmuch as the front edges of the front legs l4, l5 are disposed at the same incline as the front edges of the back uprights I8, I9, and are disposed at the same angle with relation to the upper edge of the hori zontal bars l2, I3, whereby the occurrence of scrap material between the frame members I 8, H will be avoided.

The seat 22 and the back 28 are laid out successively below the frame and extend downwardly into the space between the legs of succeeding frame members 10" and I I". A preceding seat 22 and a back 28 will be laid out in the same manner above the frame member II, and will leave ample material between the legs I and I1 for laying out the three triangular blocks 24. The seat 22' will, of course, lie between the legs of frame members l0 and II.

Second form The second form of the invention shown in Figs. and 11 comprises a pair of frame members 3|, 32, and a seat 33 which are substantially identical to the corresponding parts in the first form of the chair. however, the means for relatively holding the frame members 3|, 32 and the seat 33 comprises a pair of sockets 34 in the forward upper edge portions of the respective frame members, each of said sockets having secured therein a lining in the form of a flanged bushing 35 which is adapted to receive a resilient split dowel pin 36 secured in the lower surface of the seat 33.

Third form The third form of chair shown in Figs. 12 and 13 embodies the frame and seat structure of either the first or second forms of the invention, but is provided with a different back structure comprising uprights 31, 38 to which a curved back 39 is attached by means of angular brackets 48.

The brackets 40 are secured to the inner surfaces of the uprights 31, 38 by means of screws 4|, and are provided with slots 42 which are inclined upwardly and away from said uprights, and which have enlarged lower ends 43, so as to permit the heads of screws 44 in the back 39 to enter said slots. The inclined slots 42 are so arranged that the upper ends of the uprights 31, 38 must be sprung toward each other in order to permit the screws 44 to be engaged in said slots. Thus, when the resilience of the uprights 31, 38 causes them to resume their normal position, the inclination of the slots 42 is adapted to hold the screws 44 in their assembled position as shown in P 8. 13.

Fourth ,form

In the fourth form of the invention, shown in Figs. 14 and 15, provision is made of a pair of uprights 45, 46 between which a curved back 41 is detachably secured by means of pairs of socket 48 in the inner surfaces of said uprights and complementary pairs of dowels 49 mounted in the ends of the back 41.

Thus,-the back 41 is adapted to be held in place In the second form, H

4 by the resilience of the uprights 45, 48, together with the frictional engagement of the dowels 49 in the sockets 48.

Fifth form In the fifth form of the invention shown in Figs. 16 and 17, provision is made of an elongated seat 50, which has rear corner notches 5| and is otherwise similar to the seat 22 of the first form of the invention except for its elongated shape. However the rear edge of the seat 58 is provided with a pair of oppositely inclined intermediate notches 52 whereby two sets of the frame members I0, I I may be assembled with the seat 50. The lower surface of the seat 50 is, of course, provided with two sets of the triangular blocks 24.

Provision is also made of an elongated back 53 having spaced duplicate sets of the snap fasteners 29, 30, whereby said back may be secured to the two pairs of uprights l8, l9, as shown in Fig. 16.

Assembly In the assembly of the first form of the invention it will merely be necessary to place the frame members 18, ll together at right angles to each other, as shown in Fig. 4, the slots 20, 2| being interengaged so that the horizontal bars I2, I3 will present a flat upper surface. The seat 22 will then be applied thereto in such a position that the rear corner notches 23 are engaged with the uprights l8, 19. In performing this operation, the slots 25 will, of course, be engaged over the intersecting portions of the frames, or alternatively in the second form of the invention, the dowel pins 36 will be engaged in the bushings 35. The back 28 will then be applied by snapping together the respective sections of the snap fasteners 29, 30.

When the curved back 39 shown in Figs. 12 and 13 is used, the uprights 31, 38 will be sprung toward each other sufficiently to permit the screws 44 to be engaged in the enlarged ends 43 of the slots 42. The back 39 will then he slid upwardly, whereupon the uprights 31, 38 will spring outwardly to their normal positions and the screws 44 will be fully engaged in the slots 42, 42.

The curved back 41 (Figs. 14 and 15) will be applied by springing the uprights 45, 46 outwardly so as to permit the dowels 49 to enter the sockets 48, where they will be held by friction and also by the resilience of said uprights.

It will be understood that the dowel pin structure shown in Figs. 10 and 11 may be used to advantage in chairs having the back structures shown in Figs. 12 and 13, and in Figs. 14 and 15. This dowel pin structure may be also used in the bench shown in Figs. 16 and 17, in lieu of the triangular blocks 24.

It will be understood also that the angular bracket 40 shown in Figs. 12 and 13 may be employed equally well for securing the back 28 in the first form of the invention, and the back 53 in the fifth form of the invention.

It will also be understood that snap fasteners such as shown in Fig. 2 may be used if desired to attach the curved back 39 of Fig. 12 to the uprights l8, 19 (Fig. 4) without the use of wedges since said fasteners may be embedded in said uprights and attached to the back 39.

The invention herein disclosed will be found useful whenever a substantial light-weight chair of good appearance is desired, and will also be useful whenever portability and ease of storage are important considerations. For example, the chair may be used to advantage in homes, offices,

hotels, theaters, radio studios, funeral parlors, and at card parties, and may be made to serve as childrens furniture and as an educational toy.

Further, the various parts of the chair may be supplied in different colors or finishes, and, if desired, each chair may be supplied with a plurality of seat members, each upholstered in a different material, whereby the householder or other user may readily change the appearance of the chair. Thus, for example, a seat upholstered in a material of light color for summer use may be easily replaced by a seat upholstered in a material of darker color for winter use. This feature will be found especially useful when the chair is used for display purposes and frequent changes of appearance are desired.

While there have been disclosed in this specification several forms in which the invention is to be embodied, it is to be understood that these forms are to be shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not to be limited to the specific disclosures, but may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit. In short, the invention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the following claim.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new, and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent, is:

In a collapsible chair, the parts of which are readily detachable, a pair of integral horizontal frame members and leg members, said horizontal frame members being vertically slotted for complementary, interfitting, perpendicular crossing engagement, a seat member supported upon said frame members, said seat member having three spaced triangular blocks secured to its undersurface and located at the center of said seat memher, the spaces between said blocks providing a pair of grooves for closely embracing the intersecting top sections of said frame members whereby they will be held firmly against lateral displacement.

GENNARO J. BASILE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 143,005 Hunter Nov. 27, 1945 301,913 Miller July 15, 1884 1,125,359 McDowell Jan. 19, 1915 1,645,120 Sterbenz Oct. 11, 1927 1,718,321 Vericel June 25, 1929 2,119,946 Bancroft June 7, 1938 2,347,821 Goldner May 2, 1944 2,352,106 Kesner June 20, 1944 2,423,798 Sabner July 8, 1947 2,444,991 Hunter July 13, 1948 2,460,027 Nash Jan. 25, 1949 2,540,254 Garber Feb. 6, 1951 

